Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea is not fermented, so its active ingredients are not changed. Some of those ingredients include polyphenols, potent antioxidants that appear to help protect against various cancers. Green tea is also credited with helping regulate blood glucose levels, lowering cholesterol levels, and helping promote weight loss. The polyphenols in green tea are also believed to stimulate the production of immune system cells and to directly inhibit glycation. Studies in both humans and animals suggest that green tea may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, promote oral health, lower blood pressure, protect the nervous system, and have antibacterial and antiviral properties.

To reap the anti-aging benefits of green tea, drink at least three cups daily. Green tea does contain some caffeine, but at a much lower level than in coffee: an eight-ounce cup of green tea has about 20 to 30mg of caffeine, compared with about 100mg in a cup of coffee. Decaffeinated green tea is also available.

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Inflammation doesn’t just affect the joints and cause arthritis; it can occur anywhere along the miles of blood vessels in the body. In fact, recent research shows that chronic inflammation of the blood vessels is an important factor in aging and age-related diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. A major contributor [...]

Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea is not fermented, so its active ingredients are not changed. Some of those ingredients include polyphenols, potent antioxidants that appear to help protect against various cancers. Green tea is also credited with helping regulate blood glucose levels, lowering cholesterol levels, and helping promote weight loss. The polyphenols in [...]

We’ve mentioned the impact that free radicals have on aging, so you need lots of antioxidants to fight off these nasty damaging molecules. The accumulated harm to cells, tissues, and organs caused by free radicals is a key contributor to aging and many diseases associated with growing older. Great sources of antioxidants are fresh fruits [...]

As a general guideline, you should hold your total fat intake to 25 to 30 percent of calories, and no more than 10 percent of total caloric intake should be from “bad” fats—saturated and trans fats. Trans fat should be held to 3% or less. The remaining 15 to 20 percent of total calories that [...]

It’s not hard to make friends with fiber if you follow steps 3 and 4, because they include plenty of fiber-rich foods. The Institutes of Medicine recommend the following daily fiber intake (soluble and insoluble) for adults: for men 19 to 50 years, 38 grams per day; older than 50 years, 30 grams. For women [...]

It’s not always what you eat but how you prepare it that can subtract years from your life. That’s why you need to prepare your food in ways that do not promote the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), those nasty substances that accelerate aging, cause inflammation, and contribute to dozens of diseases and [...]

Protein deficiency is one dietary problem most Americans do not have, but getting too much protein—and suboptimal protein—is. To this fact add another one: as you age your ability to create, transport, and break down proteins decreases. The combined result is a loss of muscle tone, the appearance of wrinkles, loss and graying of hair, [...]

You are surrounded by substances that cause and contribute to aging and disease, and that includes the food and beverages you consume every day. Fortunately there are ways you can avoid or minimize their harmful effects. Avoid sugar and sugary foods. If you don’t think something that tastes so good and sweet could be so [...]

You should be nuts about nuts, and here’s why. Several very large studies that included tens of thousands of participants from the Nurses’ Health Study, the Physicians’ Health Study, and others, found that the risk of coronary heart disease is 37 percent lower among people who eat nuts more than four times per week compared [...]

Pure water is essential for hydration of the skin and muscles and to promote healthy circulation and organ system functioning, especially the gastrointestinal system. Keeping yourself properly hydrated can also significantly reduce your chances of getting cancer. Studies have shown that women who drank more water (eight glasses or more daily) had less than 50% [...]